Cool MateBusiness vs This is not __ company
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Business
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
This is not __ company
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Business
| Business | This is not __ company | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈbɪznəs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈbɪznəs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðɪs ɪz nɒt ˈkʌmpəni//🇺🇸 //ðɪs ɪz nɑt ˈkʌmpəni// |
| Meaning | The activity of making or selling goods or services. | This is not someone's business or organization. |
| Example | She started her own business last year. | This is not your company; you can't make all the decisions. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | big, profitable, private, carry on, conduct, do, deal, transaction, opportunity, in business, on business, business as usual, business or pleasure, mix business with pleasure, daily, real, get on with, go about, make something, have no business doing something, have no business to do something, keep your nose out of somebody’s business, brisk, good, bad, do, attract, drum up, boom, grow, pick up, large, medium-sized, small, have, own, manage, do well, flourish, succeed, assets, premises, failure, daily, real, get on with, go about, make something, have no business doing something, have no business to do something, keep your nose out of somebody’s business, private, important, pressing, get down to, deal with, discuss, any other business, mean business, whole, dirty, messy, big, profitable, private, carry on, conduct, do, deal, transaction, opportunity, in business, on business, business as usual, business or pleasure, mix business with pleasure | my company, your company, this company, our company, a company |
| Antonyms | leisure, idleness, unemployment | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'busy' — 'business' refers to work, while 'busy' means having a lot to do., Using 'business' as a verb — it is only a noun., Saying 'the business are' instead of 'the business is' — 'business' is a singular noun. | Omitting 'the' before 'company'., Confusing with 'affect' vs 'effect'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'business' in general and formal contexts when discussing work, trade, or commerce. It is not typically used in casual conversations about personal matters. | Use in informal and formal contexts to clarify that the company in question is not yours or not representative of you. |
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Frequently asked questions: Business vs This is not __ company
What's the difference between Business and This is not __ company?
Business: The activity of making or selling goods or services. This is not __ company: This is not someone's business or organization.
Which is more common: Business and This is not __ company?
Business is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Business: She started her own business last year. This is not __ company: This is not your company; you can't make all the decisions.
Can I use Business and This is not __ company interchangeably?
Not always. Business and This is not __ company are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.